MARSHALL-MOTLEY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Join the next generation of civil rights lawyers

Named in honor of the legendary civil rights attorney and LDF founder Thurgood Marshall, and iconic civil rights litigator Constance Baker Motley, the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program (MMSP) is a groundbreaking commitment to endow the South with the next generation of civil rights lawyers trained to provide legal advocacy of unparalleled excellence.

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THE PROGRAM

Fighting for racial justice and equity, Serving Black communities in the south

This moment in our nation calls for a full complement of highly-trained and dedicated civil rights lawyers prepared to meet the challenges we confront and serve our communities with excellence. Established by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the MMSP is committed to identifying and investing in the next generation of aspiring lawyers dedicated to pursuing racial justice in the South, and for whom this work is a personal and professional calling.

The MMSP will support and develop the next wave of civil rights lawyers in the South, where the majority of Black Americans live. Over the next five years, we will invest in the establishment of a corps of 50 civil rights attorneys equipped and prepared to advocate on behalf of Black communities in the South seeking racial justice and equity.

Scholars who demonstrate a commitment to this mission will be afforded:

A full law school scholarship for tuition, room and board, and incidentals to alleviate the debt burden that can prevent future lawyers from pursuing a career as a civil rights lawyer;
Summer internships with national and regional civil rights organizations with offices in the South focused on racial justice to jumpstart training in civil rights law;
Two-year postgraduate fellowship at civil rights law organizations in the South fighting to achieve racial justice; and
Access to special trainings sponsored by LDF and the National Academy of Sciences.

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“I’m so excited that the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program supports my generation of incredible peers in carrying forward the torch lit by the Legal Defense Fund- illuminating the path of hope, equity, and justice.”

Yara Shahidi

“This is the right time for LDF’s investment in the MMSP, and I am delighted that future civil rights attorneys will carry forth my mother’s legacy and continue the work she began as an LDF attorney.”

Joel Motley

“This program is a wonderful recognition of the need to support the development of a new generation of local lawyers in the South who play such an important role in civil rights lawyering.”

Mrs. Cecilia Marshall

“I am thrilled about the launch of the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program. I began my career at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and it was one of the defining professional experiences for me and I am certain these young lawyers will be able to say the same.”

Gov. Deval Patrick

“This announcement is especially meaningful to me because of Thurgood's powerful partnership with lawyers across the South who served with him as co-counsel on so many consequential civil rights cases.”

Mrs. Cecilia Marshall

“My mother was a fighter in a very tough struggle – one that continues today and will persist well into the future. I am grateful that the indelible mark that she left at LDF and on the broader civil rights landscape continues to inspire future generations of lawyers.”

Joel Motley

“The MMSP will not only honor the transformative civil rights legacy of Justice Marshall and Judge Motley, but also build a framework to ensure new and sustainable generations of civil rights warriors have a commitment to further racial equity and justice in the South.”

Steve Benjamin

“The creation of the MMSP by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund is one of the most important investments an organization could make to help advance racial justice and equality in our nation.”

John Legend

“Our country continues to be plagued with racial injustice, and we need Nonviolent Warriors who are prepared and equipped on all fronts to deal with it — especially on the legal front. I wholeheartedly support the launch of MMSP.”

Rev. Dr. Bernice King

“The complexity and skills required for civil rights lawyering has always been underestimated and undervalued, which is why the MMSP is an important and exciting innovation to advance the cause of justice in this nation.”

Bryan Stevenson

OUR HISTORY

LDF has worked for decades to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice

Founded in 1940 by Thurgood Marshall, LDF was launched at a time when equity and due process were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. Over the next 80 years, LDF challenged those injustices and remains at the forefront of developing and supporting many of our nation’s legendary civil rights lawyers and leaders.

During the 1960s, and early ‘70s, LDF invested in the creation of Black law firms in the American South, providing fellowships and start-up costs for the law practices of some of the most celebrated civil rights lawyers in the region. The time is ripe once again for LDF to invest in the growth and development of civil rights lawyers in the South, where Black people continue to struggle against impediments to voting, education equity, and racial and economic justice.

The MMSP is the next phase of our commitment. Paired with the opening of our new regional office in Atlanta, LDF is deepening its presence in the region to help leverage the talent, passion, and commitment of a new cohort of civil rights attorneys dedicated to serving the South.

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